Process for obtaining textile fibers of high quality from the skins of fish such as,in particular, those of the chondropterygii-selachii



Patented May 14,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED EHRENREICH, 01? LONDON, lilNGLAND.

PROCESS FOR OBTAINING TEXTILE FIBERS OF HIGH QUALITY FROM THE EEIFIIIt-Itl 013 FISH $UGI-I AS, IN PARTICULAR, THOSE OF THE 0HONDROPIERYGILSELACHII.

No Drawing". Application filed January 24, 1928, Serial No. 249,205, and in Belgium January 257, 192?.

The subject or the invention is an improved process permitting of obtaining tentile fibers of high quality from the skins of fish, especially those of the Chonclropterygii-belachii, and more particularly those of the sharks or Plagiostomi, the said process facilitating and thus rendering the treatment of the skins, with a view to obtaining textile fibers, more rapid and economical and tending at the same time to the subsequent preservation of these fibers as well as to their improvement. The textile fibers ob tained by the improved process cost less to produce, are very resistant, of a brilliance reminiscent of the lustre in silk and are of an excellent state of preservation, no matter what treatment they subsequently undergo.

This improved process is characterized by that:

1. After a short treatment with, for instance, lime, the fleshed skins are subjected to the diastasic action oi. enzymes, renderinc" it possible to disintegrate the skins.

it has been found that the skin of the Chendropterygii-Selachii is very resistant to these diastasic actions and that, on the other hand, the intercellular substance is strongly decomposed and then finally destroyed by the enzymes, so that the adhesion between the different fibers is reduced to such a degree that a slight mechanical treatment then suffices to obtain a fiber capable of being spun.

It is possible to use, for instance, try 'isin, i. e. the diastase oi pancreatic sugar, either in the term oi extracts or in the term o'l preparations with a basis 0:]? trypsin, sueh as, for instance, the product known as oi-opone.

instead oi? trypsin, it is possible to use er;- tracts prepared from the glands of the Piagiostomi, such as sharks, and, in particular, the gland which is found at the connneneement of? the intestine, which corresponds to the pancreas of the inannniitera.

For instance, after the treatment with lime the skins are treated by means ol? an extract oi? trypsin or of shark glands titor a period of 24 to hours, at a temperature varyingbetween and 0., the material and the liquid being, by preference, kept in a slight state oi circulation.

2. After quickly rinsing: the skins, the structure of which will be found to be lure of gum tragucauth,

broken. down, they are immediately subject ed to the tanning process by means of any suitable tanning agents, vegetable, mineral or artificial. The trypsin decomposes the intercellular substance, thus decreasing the cohesion between. the diilercnt fibers and thus breaking; down the structure of the skin as stated. Owing to this treatment the fibers acquire a tired brilliance comparable With that of silk and are permanently pro tected from the causes of deterioration or destruction.

3. After the skins are tanned, they are dried and then deiibered, the separation oi the constituent tibers being etli'ected, by pre crence, mechanically, for instance by being passed through carding and opening; machines similar to those used in the cardiac; of wool or cotton waste. The fibers so ob tained permit of the manulacture oi? fabrics, the brillianey of which comparable with that of silk and which are extremely resistant and capable oi being printed, dyed, dressed. or otherwise treated, without the fibers being' in any Way altered by such treatment.

With. the object oi :laeilitating the disintegration of the skins and the subs pient dc libering, it has been found advantagixius immediately after the treatment of the skins by the enzymes, to treat them with certain colloids, preferably with colloids oi. the nasuchas, for instance, tragasol.

Obviously it is possible, without departing; From the invention, to apply \uiriatious and modilicatiomi in details oi? the process .iiornr ing the subject thereol', for instance the tanning process, instead of being); applied to the skins before defibering, could be applied to the fibers themselves.

What I claim is:

1. An improved process for obtaining textile fibers of high quality from the skins or: fish such as those at the (.lhondropterygii- Selachii and more particularly those oi the Plagiostomi such s sharks, characterized in that the fleshed skins atter a short treatment with lime are disintegrated by being sub jected to the diastasic action at enzymes, the said skins then being rinsed, tanned, dried and detibered either by hand or mechanically by any suitable known appliance, sub stantially as described.

2. An improved process for obtaining textile fibers as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the skins after being subjected to the diastasic action. of enzymes are rinsed,-

- scribed.

4. .An improved process for obtaining textile fibers as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the disintegration of the skins is effected by the diastasic action of the liquid secreted by the pancrez'ltic glands of the Plagiostomi, substantially as described.

5. An improved process for obtainin textile fibers as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the disintegrated skins in1mediately after the treatment with enzymes or the equivalent are treated with colloids such as tragasol, substantially as described.

6. A textile fiber of high quality obtained from the skins of fishes such as Chondropterygii-Selachii and in particular of Plagiostomi 0r sharks.

In testimony whereof I allixniy signature.

ALFRED EHRENREICH. 

